ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON OPC
Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPC) are made up of two, three or four flavan-3-ol molecules bonded to each other. Two bonded together constitute a "dimer", three a "trimer" and four, a "tetramer." Collectively, they are known as "oligomers." This unique bonding causes the OPC's to become highly active biologically and this bio-activity in the body gives OPC its unparalleled ability to support human health.
OPC is classed with the broad group of antioxidant substances known as polyphenols. Found in numerous plants throughout nature, OPC occurs in abundance in grape seeds and pine bark, from which it is commercially extracted by Berkem Laboratories in Southern France. This, however, does not mean OPC is comparable to the so-called "grape seed extract"; most definitely, it is not.
What is now emerging out of the mire of confusion is that grape seed extracts and OPC are literally worlds apart in their chemical composition and, therefore, in their health benefits. Oligomeric ProanthoCyanidins (OPC) and grape seed extract are, in fact, two completely different product categories.
Grape seed extract contains a broad range of chemicals and different polyphenols-some bioavailable, some not-while OPC is a standardized, specific, singular polyphenol complex, from grape seed or pine bark, proven 100% bioavailable and non-toxic. Grape seed extract often represents material produced during the initial step only in the highly specialized OPC extraction process.
By analogy, think of the difference between crude oil and pure, refined, high octane gasoline. Then, think which fuel you would feed your car! The health benefits of our unique OPC extracts have been proven by numerous clinical studies over the past thirty years. By contrast, most grape seed extracts have emerged only since 1995.
While some of these may exhibit a certain level of unspecified antioxidant activity, their capacity to deliver the broad, diverse and proven health benefits of our OPC extract is far from evident.
In fact, until proof is delivered, the worth of grape seed extracts is pure speculation, not science. If you want the benefits of vitamin C, you buy a quality vitamin C supplement-not "orange juice extract." So it is with OPC. To enjoy the proven health benefits of OPC, you buy authentic OPC, not grape seed or pine bark "extract."
Like vitamin C, the OPC produced by Berkem Laboratories is a specific, beneficial nutrient, produced by exacting methods. The process of manufacturing this nutrient is highly specialized and the resulting pure, potent, biologically active product is worlds apart from grape seed, or pine bark "extract." So, which would you feed your body?
by Gary E. Senecal
Primary Services International
Exclusive US importer of Berkem OPC
Masquelier OPC Antioxidant Supplement (more than) Grape Seed Extract
